Shadow box



Qct. 4i, 1949. y w. F. VERNON 2,483,744

SHADOW BOX Filed Jan. 1v, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 1 l r NVENTR. @all/zag? W91?? azz Gct. 4, 1949. w. F. VERNON 2,483,744

A SHADOW Box Filed Jan. 1v, 1447 2 sheets-sheet 2 a V"4 I 151 /g q7f if Y INVENTOR.

? '7 Weffzozz @enf Patented Oct. 4, 1949 2,483,744 SHADOW Box William F. Vernon,ANewton, Iowa Application January 17, 1947, serial No. Y722,649

1 Claim.

This invention relates to mounted pictures and particularly to the form of picture mounting generally described as shadow box. The usual form of shadow box is a rather shallow glass fronted box wherein an entire framed picture is enclosed for protection of both the picture and its frame and to lend an illusion of depth to the picture. To augment the illusionof depth sometimes objects such as stuffed birds or other objects complementary to the picture are inserted in the box. The shadows from such inserted objects falling on the picture heightens the illusion of depth and gives the mounting its name, Shadow e Shadow box pictures are usually large'andexpensive, probably because the cost of the large glass fronted box is not justiiied except for such pictures. However, the artistic effect, including the illusion of depth, is highly desirable and adds to the artistic merit of smaller and cheaper pictures.

It is the particular object of the present invention to provide a glass fronted shadow box mounting for pictures that is artistic, light, and inexpensive.

Another object is to provide a shadow box mounting for pictures wherein the usual picture frame is entirely eliminated, although the general appearance and advantages of the frame are retained.

A further object is to provide on the glass front for the shadow box complementary decorations that will cast their shadows'on the picture to heighten the artistic effect and augment the illusion of depth.

And a still further object is to provide in a shadow box picture as above described means to extend the picture completely around the inside of the box to the glass front of the box to further augment the illusion of depth in the picture.

Other objects and benets will be disclosed in the following descriptions and drawings in which Fig. 1 is al front elevation view of a mounted plate against the wall of a shadow box picture which will be utilized to illustrate the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the shadow box picture as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken cross sectional view of the shadow box picture as it would appear on the section line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an exploded isometric View of the shadow box picture as will later be explained;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectiona1 View of a cord mounting of the shadow box picture as it would appear on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken plan view of the developed dual box element as it would appearv on the corner section 6 6, Fig. 4, as .will `later be explained; and Y V Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the shadow box picture as mounted in a corner or against .a flat wall.

Nowreierringtdthe drawings, it will be observed that the face glass front I8 actually forms the base of my .improved shadow box because all Vothery elements are attached to .and are held `together bythe face glass iront. On the back of the base, following a general frame-like contour ,v around the edge, .is a multi-colored paint film element II having a, general black background II-a, an outside Indian red border line I'I-b and an inside Indian red borderline II-c with black decorative iigures I I-d,.which in this particular picture represent cattle brands. Inside of the border 4I I-.c are black and red painted figures, II-e is the well known typey of cook wagon used by cattlemen and the iigures of such cattlemen, II-f, around a camp re I I -g. These foreground figures complement the picture background I2 which represents in this instance a timberline camp for cattlemen in what appears to be the Rocky Mountain region.

Now referring to Fig. 3, the aforementioned timberline camp picture is printed on flanged paper I3 aflixed to the inside of a stiff paper flange box element I4 and both securely glued on the iianges to the back of the glass member I0. The entire shadow box picture is supported on a cord I5 inserted through holes I6 and I1 through the cardboard box member I4 but back of the picture I3.

Now referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be observed that the flanged box members I3 and I4 are held together in hanged open box relationship by tapes I 8 on the corners. As shown in Fig. 5, the cord I5 passes through holes I6 and I'I in the stii support member III but inside of the paper picture member I3. Thus the support cord member I5 is entirely concealed from view through the glass I0. It will be understood and appreciated that the dual members I3 and I4 exactly coincide with each other when in flat doubled relationship, and that each of them have the flat side and flanged elements I3, Id, the box side elements I3s, 14s, and the flange elements I3-f and M-f as clearly shown in Fig. 6. When in at relationship, the elements I3 and I4 are lightly glued together so that when the open hanged box element is glued to the inside face I I of the base member I 0 the picture I3 as viewed through the open center section of the glass will extend completely around the inside wall of the box-like structure and up to the inside face of the glass I0. This is an important feature of my improvement in this art because it adds to the illusion of depth by permitting observation of the side elements of the picture l3--s extending from the back of the box completely up to the inside face of the glass.

Nowreferring again .to Fig.b .1? it ,willvbe Eappreciatedjthatthe gurs 'l l-e, 1| ("-ffandil lj-ig qxtending over the exposed face of the glass I0 will naturally cast shadows inwardly and on the barcl" ground picture I2 when light is directed toward the picture. In this particular picture I2iw`lich is entitled Timberline, this arrangementgivesthe illusion that this group of cowboys aref'canpng on the shores of a stream small. lake' neafthe timberline of a mountain range. Thehyshadows augment the illusiomof depth and th"geer`al New ref erlingtoqffig, 7, lit Willbe observed ,that

Having thus explained my invention, I now claim as new:

A shadow box pictorial display comprising a transparent glass front, a box of predetermined depth secured to said front and comprising a stiff paper backing, a picture secured thereto, and portions of said backing and picture being provided with offset anges for attachment directly to said glass front whereby said picture Lorrns,aLkcQntihuous backdrop dspaced vfrom said .gtisgfrrnt inqieadingeredlythereto, and said glass front having a plurality of opaque foremground objects secured thereto in complement with respect to the picture backdrop including fpaque design to completely hide the attached ,)portignsnofrthe box adjacent the glass front, and concealed means attached to the stiff paper back- Aing'o'f the'boxfor's'upporting the entire unit from famwalllsupport comprising a hanging cord, spaced "ap'tures in said stiff paper backing to receive .Seid 99rd. the letter having. a Doreen @emetton- RErjnRnuoEsoITEn. 

